"BOY SCOUTS."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1908, Page 7

"BOY SCOUTS."

——• .!. GENERAL BADEN-POWELL'S SCHEME. CORPS FOR NEW ZEALAND. (To thm Editor^ Sir, —Wm you kindly allow mc to commend! to those interested in the welfare of our boys, General Baden-Pow-lTs scheme for the moral, physical and mental I improvement of _te large percentage of our town and country lads who are not brought under good influences ? In this scheme any six boys can form a patrol,' one of which is chosen as leader. The patrols take ' the name of some animal, whose call they learn to imitate, in order to call up each other during their scouting and tracking games. They have a salute and a secret sign, and they take an oath on their honour. " They promise to be loyal to God and the King, to help other people at all times, and) to obey the ' scout law.'" Every scout is put on his honour, and when he says, " On my hon- | our, it is true," he is to be be_ev__. Should a scout break his honour, or tell a lie, he loses his badge, that is, he loae his life, and can never receive it again. j The organisation is run by the boys themselves, the gentlemen who act as scout-masters merely guiding them in their games and exercises. Indeed a smart boy can form his own patro . and with General Baden Powell's handbook, ! "Scouting for Boys," published! at a shilling, he can instruct his scouts, and teach them many scouting games. ln these ( games the boys find an outlet for their superfluous animal spirits, which from want of direction too often develop into hooliganism and bad citizenship. The scheme is a combination of "' nature study " and chivalry applied to the daily life of the boys. All that is good and noble in a boy's character is appealed to. He is taught to regard a lie or dteception as the refuge of a coward, and unbecoming in a scout. He must be strong in mind and body if he is to compete successfully in the scouting and tracking games, hence he has no time for penny dreadfuls, for tobacco or liquor. A sick scout is useless, so he studies deep breathing and physical culture. He is observant; he cultivates the faculty of seeing things; he notices the wonderful details; Ihe is exact. When in dbubt about a course of action, he asks himself: "What is my duty?"—not " what is best for I myself, but what is best for others," He is chivalrous to women and children, and helpful to the aged and the infirm. He ties a knot in his necktie to remind him that he must do a good' turn to someone every day. His motto is: "Be prepared." He is prepared for every emergency, consequently he is never taken at a disadvantage- This training makes him a good man and' a good citizen, and his own success in life is assured General Badcn-Powoll. in writing to mc on the subject, says: "The scheme has already during the past three months become most popular and widespread at Home and is being taken up in Canadaand South Africa. I shall be glad to hear from you when you have had time to consider the scheme in its details I sincerely hope you may be able to make a start with the scheme." In order therefore to bring" the movement into line with those of the Motherland', I shall be glad to receive from scoutmasters or leaders the names of any patrols that are formed or are being formed in or about Auckland, to enable mc to get into touch with them, and perhaps arrange for an annual camp, as well as arrange for the names of successful competitors, for scout badges and honours list to be forwarded to the General, our Chief, in the proper manner. Let mc again commend this scheme to the favourable notice of my fellow colonists, who, at little expense in time and money) may do much to help on the most popular and forward movement that has ever been tried for the making of a nation. —I am, etc., D. COSSGROVE. Major. Tuahiwi, Christchurch.